PRESS RELEASE
Date: April 14, 2008
Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern, US
122 W. 27th St. 12th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Contact: Karine Birazian
Tel: 917-428-1918
CAPITOL HILL SCREENING OF "THE LARK FARM" CAPTIVATES AUDIENCE
— Armenian Genocide Film introduced by IL Rep. Daniel Lipinski
with Remarks by Author Antonia Arslan
Washington, DC — Over 150 congressional staffers and community
activists were present for a special April 9th Capitol Hill
screening of "The Lark Farm" (La Masseria delle Allodole), a
powerful film depicting the events of the Armenian Genocide of
1915-1923, reported the Armenian National Committee of America,
Eastern Region (ANCA-ER).
Hosted by the ANCA-ER, in cooperation with Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-
IL-3), "The Lark Farm" tells the moving story of an Italian
Armenian family planning a visit to their home in Ottoman Turkey,
only to be caught up in the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. It is
based on the novel "Skylark Farm" by Antonia Arslan, which has thus
far won 17 book awards in Europe, including the Italian P.E.N. Club
Award. Already translated into fourteen languages, "Skylark Farm"
was recently selected as a First Fiction Finalist for the 2008 Los
Angeles Times Book Prize.
Addressing the crowd during his introductory remarks, Cong.
Lipinski stated, "I am very happy to have been able to play this
role in bringing this film here up to Capitol Hill. I know that
the issue of the Armenian Genocide is one that we have to keep
working on bringing public attention to. Unfortunately, it has
been swept under the rug and we really need to shine the light on
it. This film really helps to do that, and to spread the word
about what happened there to so many millions of Armenians." The
representative concluded with "We need to fight against genocide
wherever it occurs to prevent future genocides."
The Lark Farm, directed by brothers Paolo Taviani and Vittorio
Taviani, was featured at the Berlin Film Festival, as well as in
Spain and Armenia. With an outstanding international cast,
including Paz Vega, Mohammed Bakri, Tcheky Karyo and Arsinee
Khanjian, the film helps the viewer understand the struggles and
devastation that the Armenians endured from Turkish authorities
during the genocide.
Following the movie, Arslan addressed the crowd, during which
attendees thanked her for all that she had done to raise awareness
on this issue. On tour in America to promote her novel, which has
recently been released in paperback, Arslan has traveled throughout
the world speaking to hundreds of thousands about the story of her
family. "I am very excited about being in America. The warm
welcome from the various audiences I have spoken to, both Armenian
and non-Armenian, has been wonderful. I hope the novel and the
movie can play a role in connecting not only the Armenian
communities throughout the Diaspora, but also in connecting
Armenians to those who do not have any connection to the Armenian
people at all. My family’s story is really the story of all those
who struggled ` and continue to struggle ` for survival, for life,
during and after a genocide."
Siobhan Nash-Marshall, Professor of Philosophy at Manhattanville
College in New York City and close friend of Arslan, made a
powerful closing statement at the event, "Without truth, there is
no peace." Marshall, who hosted a book reading of Skylark Farm at
Manhattanville College earlier this month, has been instrumental in
pursuing the advancement of this issue through education.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.
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Photo Caption #1: Antoniia Arslan (center) and Siobhan Nash
Marshall, (immediate left) surrounded by ANCA National and Eastern
Region staff
Photo Caption #2: Rep. Lipinski (D-IL-3) addressing the crowd
Photo Caption #2: Author Antonia Arslan giving closing remarks